vijayawada l thursday l november 20, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 12 l late city EDITION Ready to launch first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission anytime: Isro Isro chairman V Narayanan said on Wednesday the space agency is fully prepared to launch the first of the three uncrewed missions any time Over 80,000 tests completed: V narayanan Launch in December, PM to finalise date Narayanan said that with 80,000 tests completed, about 85% of the work on the Gaganyaan mission is now done. The first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission is scheduled for December 2025 and will carry the humanoid robot Vyommitra. It will be the first of three uncrewed tests designed to validate the mission’s systems before the crewed launch ■ ■ The launch date for the first uncrewed mission will be finalised by the Prime Minister, Narayanan said at the Bengaluru Tech Summit 2025 The Isro chairman said India’s share in the global space economy is expected to rise to 11% by 2047, from the current 2%. He added Isro will launch around 50 satellites per year over the next five years 2027 when India aims to launch the first crewed ganganyaan mission CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Modi sees ‘Bihar winds’ at TN meeting Another form of Express News Service @ Coimbatore Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the country is on the path to becoming a global hub for natural farming. Addressing a meeting after inaugurating the threeday South India Natural Farming Summit 2025 at Codissia Hall in Coimbatore, the PM said, “The country’s biodiversity is evolving, and the youth are now viewing agriculture as a modern, scalable opportunity . This shift will greatly strengthen the rural economy .” Alluding to the NDA’s stunning victory in Bihar poll and the bright prospects for the alliance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections in 2026, the PM referred to the waving of towels by farmers at the event as arrival of “Bihar winds” in Tamil Nadu. “I think the spirit of Bihar had arrived even before I did,” he quipped. The PM PM Modi being felicitated at the farmers’ summit in Coimbatore | S Senbagapandiyan `18K cr released for 9 cr farmers under PM-KISAN PM Modi released the 21st installment of PM-KISAN amounting to more than `18,000 crore to support nine crore farmers across the country, and said that `4 lakh crore has been directly transferred to the bank accounts of small farmers so far under the scheme also said that he should have learnt Tamil in his childhood. “A year ago, the central government had launched the national mission on natural farm- ing. T he impact of this initiative is especially visible across south India, with approximately 35,000 hectares of land in Tamil Nadu alone now under organic and natural farming. Natural farming is an indigenous Indian concept not imported from elsewhere but born out of our tradition and aligned to our environment,” Modi said. The prime minister also said that integrating the cultivation of millets with natural farming plays a vital role in protecting Mother Earth. He noted that in Tamil Nadu, Lord Murugan is offered ‘thenum and thinai maavum’, a preparation made from honey and Shree Anna (foxtail millet flour). Modi stressed that the government is committed to taking the superfood (millets) to global markets and emphasised that natural and chemical-free farming will play a major role in expanding their international reach. The prime minister also urged the state government to promote multicropping on the lines of Kerala and Karnataka. US deports 200 Indian nationals, including gangster Anmol Bishnoi HARPREET B A J WA @ Chandigarh Nitish to take oath today for record 10th time JD(U) supremo Nitish Kumar will take oath as Bihar chief minister for a record 10th time at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan at 11 am on Thursday Page 8 7 Maoists killed in ASR encounter Dharmendra Regana @ Visakhapatnam Seven Maoists, including a key explosives expert, were killed in an encounter under the Maredumilli police station limits in Alluri Sitarama Raju (ASR) district on Wednesday morning. Following intelligence inputs that Maoists are infiltrating into the State for recruitment and regrouping purpose, using the Maredumilli area in ASR district as a shelter zone, the Andhra Pradesh Police have launched “Operation Amit Bardar, Sambhav.” SenASR district SP ior Maoist cadres were neutralised in the operation. The slain Maoists were identified as Metturi Joga Rao alias Tech Shankar, a native of Bathupuram in Srikakulam district; Jyothi alias Saritha, a Divisional Committee Member; Suresh alias Ramesh, an Area Committee Member (ACM); Lokesh alias Ganesh, ACM; Sainu alias Vasu, ACM; Anitha, ACM; and Shammi, ACM. Disclosing encounter details to mediapersons, ASR district Superintendent of Police Amit Bardar said the seven Maoists were killed in the same region, where an encounter took place on Tuesday in which six Mao, P4 ists were killed.  A special US deportation flight carrying 200 Indians, including Anmol Bishnoi, the younger brother and close aide of gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, two other fugitives wanted in Punjab, and 197 undocumented migrants landed in New Delhi on Wednesday . Anmol is wanted in multiple criminal cases in India, including the murders of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala in May 2022 and Nationalist Congress Party leader Baba Siddique in October 2024, and firing at actor Shah Rukh Khan’s residence in April 2024. As soon as the special US flight landed at the Indira Gan- Anmol Bishnoi being brought to the Patiala House Court | Parveen Negi dhi International Airport in Delhi, Bishnoi was detained by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). He was later produced at Delhi’s Patiala House court, which sent him to 11 days NIA custody . “We are trying to find how he fled India,” Special Public Prosecutor Rahul Tyagi said, `415 crore scam Ed gets 13-day custody of al Falah chief erated without valid accreditation is `415.10 crore. @ New Delhi/ Srinagar/ Lucknow Meanwhile, sources said around 10 people associated The Enforcement Directo- with the Al-Falah University , rate (ED), which is investi- including three from Kashgating the Al Falah group mir, are missing. Their mothat is at the centre of the bile phones are switched off. Delhi blast case for alleged Their disappearances came money laundering, has un- to light after a joint operacovered ‘tainted’ funds tion by the J&K and Haryaamounting to `415 na police. crore, sources said In J&K, the police on Wednesday . inspected lockers beThe agency has selonging to doctors in cured 13-day custody the Valley . of Jawad Ahmed Sid“All lockers were diqui, the chairman checked. Lockers and founder of the found unclaimed, imJawad Ahmed properly labelled or group, who was arSiddiqui rested on Tuesday . without ownership An official said the were documented,” Al Falah group generated an official said. “proceeds of crime” by deIn Uttar Pradesh, the state ceiving students through A n t i - Te r r o r i s t S q u a d false claims about the ac- launched a informationcreditation and recognition gathering exercise across of its institutions. eight districts, seeking deAccording to the ED, the tailed records of all students, total educational income ac- teachers and management cumulated during the years personnel associated with in which the institutions op- all operational madrasas. Su m i t K u m a r , F aya z W a n i & N a m i ta B a j pa i MP officer killed During encounter with maoists Inspector Ashish Sharma of the MP police’s elite Hawk Force anti-Naxal unit died on Wednesday after being injuried in a gunfight on the Chhattisgarh-MP border | P8 adding that Anmol will be produced before the court again on November 29 after completion of his NIA custody . Hailing from Punjab’s Fazilka, Anmol was Lawrence Bishnoi’s overseas handler and was directing extortion rackets, issuing threats, and coordinating assignments through encrypted channels. He reportedly slipped out of the country in April 2022 using a forged passport, accompanied by another wanted gangster Sachin Thapan. Sources said Anmol managed to get a fake passport in the name of Bhanu Pratap, a resident of Faridabad, and his father’s name was mentioned as Rakesh. talaq now under top court’s glare SC raps sending talaq-e-hasan notice via counsel; matter may go to 5-member bench S U CHITRA K ALYAN MOHANTY @ New Delhi Eight years after it deemed instant triple talaq (talaq-e-biddah) unconstitutional, the Supreme Court on Wednesday indicated it could go after talaq staggered over three months (talaq-e-hasan) — a form of divorce — by sending the matter to a five-member bench. Under talaq-e-hasan, a Muslim man can divorce his wife by uttering the word talaq once each for three months. A three-judge bench led by Justice Surya Kant was hearing a petition by journalist Benazeer Heena, who said her husband Ghulam Akhtar had sent unsigned talaq-e-hasan notices through his lawyer by Speed Post. “In the 11-page talaq notice, the sign of the husband is missing. Talaq was pronounced by the husband’s advocate,” her counsel said. In the absence of Akhtar’s signature, Heena has been unable to prove she is divorced, though he remarried. But if she to wed again, Akhtar could accuse her of polyandry Heena . also had problems with her child’s school admission. Akhtar’s advocate said the practice of conveying talaq through legal notice was quite common in Islam. “How is this allowed in moder n society?” the bench that included justices Ujjal Bhuyan, and N K Singh wondered. “We are in 2025. How are you promoting this? Regulation as per constitutional ethos The bench said it is not the question of striking down a prevalent religious practice but an issue which needs to be regulated as per the constitutional ethos. Heena’s PIL was directed to be listed on Nov 26, Constitution Day Is this how the dignity of a woman is upheld? Should a civilised society allow this kind of practice?” justice Surya Kant asked. The bench went on to observe, “Society at large is involved. Some remedial measures have to be taken. If there are gross discriminatory practices, this court will have to interfere.” The court indicated that if required it could refer the matter to a five-member bench for consideration. “Give us broadly the legal questions that may arise. Then we will see how to resolve them,” the bench said. In her petition, Heena sought a declaration that talaq-e-hasan is irrational, arbitrary and violative of Articles 14, 15, 21 and 25 of the Constitution. Modi hails Sathya Sai Baba’s life as a beacon of love, service and harmony Express News Service @ Puttaparthi Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying homage to Bhagawan Sri Sathya Sai Baba at the grand birth centenary celebrations held at Prasanthi Nilayam in Puttaparthi on Wednesday. Modi paid floral tributes at Baba’s Mahasamadhi, and described his presence on the sacred land as a deeply emotional and spiritual experience. Addressing a massive gathering of devotees, spiritual leaders, and dignitaries at Hill View Stadium, Modi hailed Baba’s life as a beacon of love, service, and universal harmony He de. scribed the centenary year as a GOVT cENSUREd SC quashes Tribunal law provisions S U CHITRA K ALYAN MOHANTY @ New Delhi THE Supreme Cour t on Wednesday struck down key provisions of the Tribunals Reforms Act, 2021 related to the appointment and tenure of tribunal members, noting that these were in violation of the court’s earlier judgments, and directed the Centre to set up a National Tribunals Commission within four months. In a strongly worded verdict, a bench of Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran said the Centre brought back the provisions earlier read down by the apex court with minor tweaks. “The impugned provisions violated the principles of separation of powers and judicial independence, and they should not have been brought back,” the bench said. It said until a new legislation is put in place to give effect to the court’s order, the directions and principles laid down in its earlier judgments will govern all matters related to appointment, tenure and qualifications concerning tribunal members. The CJI, who authored the 137-page judgment, specifically invalidated Section 3 of thje law, which mandated a minimum age of 50 years for appointment as a chairperson or member. The court held that this section excluded young and competent advocates and experts. It also set aside Section 5 of the Act which fixed the tenure of chairpersons and members of tribunals at four years. The bench reinstated the five-year tenure rule to ensure security of service and institutional independence. express read `6.2-cr ICMR grant for kidney research project Vijayawada: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has approved a `6.2 crore grant for a three-year research project aimed at investigating the causes of chronic kidney disease in Uddanam region of Srikakulam district. The research will be led by Andhra Medical College (AMC), Visakhapatnam | P3 Embrace tech for better crop yield: CM to ryots Prime Minister Narendra Modi releases a `100 commemorative coin at the birth centenary celebrations of Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparthi on Wednesday | Express “divine blessing” and a “grand festival of universal love, peace, and service.” To mark the occasion, Modi released a `100 com- memorative coin, and unveiled a special postage stamp with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.  P4 Kadapa: Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu called upon farmers to adopt modern agricultural technologies for better crop yield. Stressing the need for crop diversification, he said technological advancement is the only way to raise farmers’ income in the long run | P4 new benchmark Partnership Summit achieves near zero-waste U s h a P e r i @ Visakhapatnam The 30th CII Partnership Summit 2025 in Visakhapatnam not only brought major investments into focus but also demonstrated how a global event can be conducted with disciplined waste management. Behind this outcome was a coordinated team of nearly 1,700 on-ground personnel whose steady organised efforts , ensured that the two-day summit remained almost plasticfree, and generated no landfillbound waste. According to the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation, the summit generated around 4 tonnes of waste, including 2 tonnes of wet waste, and 2 tonnes of dry waste. Most of this comprised kitchen leftovers, biodegradable materials, cardboard and paper. “Every bit of food waste was diverted to the biogas plant, ensuring nothing went to landfill,” said Dr EVN Naresh, Chief Medical Officer of Health, GVMC. All dry waste was routed to the Material Recovery Centre, where recyclable and non-recy- Dry waste generated during the 30th CII Partnership Summit being stacked up in bags | G Satyanarayana clable materials were separated. “Around 30 kg of non-recyclable material eventually went to the waste-to-energy plant. Even the glassware used at the summit followed a circular route. All bottles were sent to an RO Bottle Unit where they were washed, and UV-sterilised, making them fit for reuse in future events,” he revealed. Inside the main venue, the CII engaged 200 operational personnel per day, divided across two shifts. Each shift consisted of 100 sanitation staff responsible for maintaining hygiene across all venue zones, 50 members of the hospitality and food service teams, and 50 kitchen support personnel. P4